Church reaches out to local citizens

A local church is reaching out to a near by community for fellowship and discipleship.

CHRISTOPHER THOMAS Daily News Staff

A local church is reaching out to a near by community for fellowship and discipleship.

Riverof LifeChurch on Gum Branch Roadhosts a community outreach event every Saturday on the corner of Davis and Elm Streets. Members of the church give out groceries and pray for residents.

The program’s roots can be found not on the CrystalCoast, but near the northeastern coast of Italyin a town called Trevisowhere Riverof Life’s Outreach and Missions Pastor, James Grayson, served as a missionary for six years. Grayson was in Trevisoto plant a church affiliated with Riverof Life. During a parent-teacher conference at his children’s school, he learned the school needed help.

“The teacher told me the school had not been painted in 20 years,” said Grayson. “I didn’t even hear the rest. I went right to work.”

When Grayson and his family returned to the states in 2010, the experience stuck with him and he started the Serve Team at the church. The team went around to various neighborhoods near the church and knock on doors. Grayson said the ministry, though successful, was missing something. They found that something while visiting the DreamCenterin Los Angelesin 2012 and talking with its founder, Matthew Barnett.

“The center was based around consistency, and we were missing that,” said Grayson. “We weren’t getting to know people. They knew about Riverof Life, but they didn’t know our volunteers by name.”

In March of the following year, Grayson gathered a group of 32 volunteers to do what they’ve done for nearly three years: knock on doors and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This time, though, Grayson divided the group into teams of two and gave them a specific set of houses to visit. Every Saturday for the proceeding three months, those volunteers knocked on their assigned doors and got to know the residents. Grayson hoped this new approach would create new friendships and troubleshoot neighborhood concerns.

“We didn’t want them to think we were salesmen,” said Grayson. “We’re not out here to Bible thump. We just wanted to show them the love of God.”

One of the volunteers who spent those three months out and about at Davis Streetis Riverof Lifemember Tom Hill. Hill, who has been a Riverof Lifemember since 2004, said he first got involved because of a desire he had to participate in a street ministry. Though Grayson was one of the leaders of the ministry, Hill says his instructions came from an even higher power.

“We’re doing (God’s) calling,” said Hill. “Being a Christian isn’t only about faith, it’s also about work. This gives us an opportunity to work for God and help someone come to Christ.”

Hill said that things got off to a rocky start, but he eventually struck up friendly relationships with people in the neighborhood. Hill says his personal mission isn’t to increase his church’s fellowship, but to share a message of love to those living in the neighborhood.

“I’m getting to like seeing those familiar faces,” said Hill. “We’re providing food for those living on a small income. I feel like we’re making a real difference here.”

After the three months ended, Riverof Lifeheld a block party on Davis Street. Grayson believed, though, that there was still work to be done. Now, on every Saturday afternoon near the corner of Davis and Elm Streets, Riverof Lifeholds a community get together and grocery give away. According to Grayson, more than 20 families arrive to the event weekly. The church is currently in the process of expanding to the New Riverarea of Jacksonville. Grayson says he hopes that’s just the beginning of the expansion of the program.

“Our goal is to see this whole city that God loves them and we want to see this grow into every neighborhood,” said Grayson.

Christopher Thomas is a staff writer for the Jacksonville Daily News. To contact him, call 910-219-8473 or e-mail him at christopher.thomas@jdnews.com.